Selected Poems

Rating:
Summary: My Comments
Review: Five stars! If I had to choose the ten greatest books of the twentieth century, Brooks' Selected Poems would have to be one of them. Her voice is entirely original - no one who came before Brooks or follows her writes quite like her. Brooks' work is distinguished by so many wonderful qualities - she may have the best ear of any living American poet. Her sense of the musicality of language rivals that of Yeats and Dylan Thomas (as in, say, "A Sunset of the City," "We Real Cool," "Big Bessie throws her son into the street, and her great long poem, "Riot."). I once heard Gwendolyn Brooks read over twenty years ago when I was in college, and I still haven't forgotten the sound of her voice, and with it the dawn of my understanding that poetry is half-music, half-language. Brooks is also capable of that kind of clarity and brilliance of imagery that you find in the best William Carlos Williams Poems. (Read, for example, "The Last Quatrain of the Ballad of Emmett Till" or "My Little `Bout Town Gal"). What has always been most special about her work for me, however, is the way Brooks captures nuances of feeling, multi-layers of emotion, in a few phrases, as in her very contemporary poem about abortion, "the mother," or her love poem, "A Lovely Love." The only other poet I know of who does this so well is Emily Dickinson.

Rating:
Summary: Gwendolyn Brooks is Magnificient
Review: Five stars! If I had to choose the ten greatest books of the twentieth century, Brooks' Selected Poems would have to be one of them. Her voice is entirely original - no one who came before Brooks or follows her writes quite like her. Brooks' work is distinguished by so many wonderful qualities - she may have the best ear of any living American poet. Her sense of the musicality of language rivals that of Yeats and Dylan Thomas (as in, say, "A Sunset of the City," "We Real Cool," "Big Bessie throws her son into the street, and her great long poem, "Riot."). I once heard Gwendolyn Brooks read over twenty years ago when I was in college, and I still haven't forgotten the sound of her voice, and with it the dawn of my understanding that poetry is half-music, half-language. Brooks is also capable of that kind of clarity and brilliance of imagery that you find in the best William Carlos Williams Poems. (Read, for example, "The Last Quatrain of the Ballad of Emmett Till" or "My Little 'Bout Town Gal"). What has always been most special about her work for me, however, is the way Brooks captures nuances of feeling, multi-layers of emotion, in a few phrases, as in her very contemporary poem about abortion, "the mother," or her love poem, "A Lovely Love." The only other poet I know of who does this so well is Emily Dickinson.

Rating:
Summary: It's not wonder no living poet has been more honored
Review: Gwendolyn Brooks is one of the masters of poetry. she is probably the greatest living poet, one of the best modern poets, and one of the better poets of all time. for anyone who loves poetry, their library shouldn't be without this volume.

Rating:
Summary: Dissappointed...
Review: I like Gwendolyn Brooks. But I like poetry that tells a story more and this book didn't have much of it. My favorite poem was "Bronzeville Woman in a Red Hat" because it was more my style of poetry, a hidden story being revealed by every line. I just wasn't feeling the poetry in this book. It seemed a little dry. I love "We Real Cool" and classics like that, but I don't feel this book showcased Brooks' ability to tell a story and recite a poem at the same time.

Rating:
Summary: Dissappointed...
Review: I like Gwendolyn Brooks. But I like poetry that tells a story more and this book didn't have much of it. My favorite poem was "Bronzeville Woman in a Red Hat" because it was more my style of poetry, a hidden story being revealed by every line. I just wasn't feeling the poetry in this book. It seemed a little dry. I love "We Real Cool" and classics like that, but I don't feel this book showcased Brooks' ability to tell a story and recite a poem at the same time.

Rating:
Summary: A small collection of a larger-than-life career
Review: In 1984, I had the honor to spend a day with Miss Brooks, and to hear her do a reading of many of the poems in this book. I wish that all of you could have heard that reading, her work is meant to be read aloud. That's what I would advise you to do, buy this book, and when you get it, read the poems aloud. Play with the flow and the cadence of the words. Miss Brooks is a national treasure, and her words speak to us all.

Rating:
Summary: We's Not So Cool
Review: It's a shame some people sit in their Wall Street Towers and, not having any apparent experience with the real world, judge harshly those who not only live in it, but interpret it into literary masterpieces. Those who find solace in maligning Gwendolyn Brook's poetry should take a much closer second look. Her poetry transcends all barriers. Her subjects are the embodiment of all of us, poor or rich. Ms. Brooks' poetry shoots straight to the soul, exposing it; and, the soul knows not color, race, creed, or ethnicity. Ms. Brooks is a national treasure, our collective national conscience. Her poetry is a reflection of today's society - good or bad, clean or dirty. Isn't it a shock to look into the mirror after all the facades are melted away and discover that none of us are really "all of that?"

Rating:
Summary: Buy a collection of Shakespeare sonnets.
Review: Ms. Brooks epitomizes what is wrong with modern poetry. Poems like "We Real Cool" show an attempt at profundity but fall so far from the mark as to be laughable. The sad fact, however, is that, of Brooks' poems, "We Real Cool" seems to be the best example of rhythm and meter I have seen.

If you want to buy a book of poetry, save your money and buy something meaningful -- perhaps a book of poetry by Yeats or a collection of Shakespeare sonnets.

Rating:
Summary: My Comments
Review: This is a wonderful book for both children and adults. If you like poems, then you should definetly read this book.